OBJECTIVES: To examine relationships between a wide range of socioeconomic factors, race/ethnicity, and adolescent risk behaviors. METHODS: The Youth Asset Study (N = 1111) was used to examine multivariate relationships between sexual initiation, alcohol use, tobacco use, and drug use and 8 socioeconomic factors. RESULTS: Socioeconomic factors beyond income and parental education (eg, wealth) were associated with some health behaviors depending upon gender. However, we did not find that a wider range of factors helped us better understand racial/ethnic disparities. CONCLUSIONS: Even the more comprehensive set of socioeconomic factors considered may not accurately capture the underlying construct of adolescent SES.
OBJECTIVES: To examine relationships between a wide range of socioeconomic factors, race/ethnicity, and adolescent risk behaviors. METHODS: The Youth Asset Study (N = 1111) was used to examine multivariate relationships between sexual initiation, alcohol use, tobacco use, and drug use and 8 socioeconomic factors. RESULTS: Socioeconomic factors beyond income and parental education (eg, wealth) were associated with some health behaviors depending upon gender. However, we did not find that a wider range of factors helped us better understand racial/ethnic disparities. CONCLUSIONS: Even the more comprehensive set of socioeconomic factors considered may not accurately capture the underlying construct of adolescent SES.